Steering is screwed...
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 686
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From: Southeast
Steering is screwed...
I got caught in the rain a week or so ago while at my girlfriend's house. While I was driving back home in the rain down GA HWY 441, the car's front tires would turn very slightly (but enough to jerk the car around) every time I hit a patch of water on the road. I've noticed it doing this when I hit bumps in the road too. It just wasn't as dangerous then as it was jerking me almost off the road the night it was raining. I ended up driving down the middle of the HWY at 45 mph. Not fun. The steering wheel has a little play in it also. I can move it about an inch either way without it turning the wheels. I had the power steering cylinder ("shock-looking thing") replaced in the steering awhile back because it was leaking. Could this play be the steering box? If not that, what could it be? Thanks for the help. By the way, it's a '71 with a 350 if that even matters.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
It could be a number of things, but first thing that comes to my
mind is the inner and outer tie rod ends. Steering box, control
valve, and the coupler could all be suspect, also. IMO, one inch
of play at the steering wheel is not terribly excessive. This tends
to rule out the box, valve, and coupler ... pointing back at a worn tie rod end.
Could also be a little of each adding up.
Ooops - almost forgot the idler arm, too. Usually not the first part to
wear down, but it could be fubar.
mind is the inner and outer tie rod ends. Steering box, control
valve, and the coupler could all be suspect, also. IMO, one inch
of play at the steering wheel is not terribly excessive. This tends
to rule out the box, valve, and coupler ... pointing back at a worn tie rod end.
Could also be a little of each adding up.
Ooops - almost forgot the idler arm, too. Usually not the first part to
wear down, but it could be fubar.
Last edited by NHvette; Apr 4, 2005 at 11:00 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 3
From: belle plaine ks
Do the Jerk
When I bought my car, I had to drive it several hundred miles home in the rain on roads with water standing in puddles. I thought at first my car was hydroplaning, but the more I drove it, the more I noticed it darted back and forth even on dry pavement. Well I almost swapped ends a couple of times, and crossed the centerline more times than I care to mention.
When I got home with the car I put it up on jack stands and carefully checked ball joints tie rod ends and bushings. Nothing was out of the ordinary until I checked the adjustment screw on the steering gear. I loosened the nut on the screw and gave the screw a turn. I got almost 3/4 of a turn slack. I don't think the gear had ever been adjusted. Having rebuilt a few of them and knowing how they work I drove the car for about two weeks making slight no pressure adjustments to the screw every two or three days. The darting around stopped after two or three adjustments and the car drove like it was supposed to.
When I got home with the car I put it up on jack stands and carefully checked ball joints tie rod ends and bushings. Nothing was out of the ordinary until I checked the adjustment screw on the steering gear. I loosened the nut on the screw and gave the screw a turn. I got almost 3/4 of a turn slack. I don't think the gear had ever been adjusted. Having rebuilt a few of them and knowing how they work I drove the car for about two weeks making slight no pressure adjustments to the screw every two or three days. The darting around stopped after two or three adjustments and the car drove like it was supposed to.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,367
Likes: 1,061
From: Virginia USA
Originally Posted by Fubba
I got caught in the rain a week or so ago while at my girlfriend's house. While I was driving back home in the rain down GA HWY 441.
I Check your balljoints too.
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To adjust your ps valve, disconnect the rod end on the ps cylinder from the car. Start the car, the ps cylinder may move. The adjustment nut is on the end of the valve facing to the drivers side, some will have a dust sheild that must be removed. The adjustment nut will only have to be moved a small amount, do not turn it more than necessary. With the car running, turn the nut untill the cylinder starts to move and then turn the nut the opposite direction untill the cylinder starts to move in the opposite direction. Turn the nut back the other direction 1/2 the rotation neccessary to change the cylinder direction.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
And if it's still loose... you need to disassemble it and adjust the internal clearance (need to buy a seal kit).... and if it's still too loose.... you need to throw it away and buy a new (not rebuilt) one. The internals wear out to the point of no repair. Most rebuilts have already seen their best days.
Besides the above posted recommendations- check the front wheel bearing adjustment, trailing arms, rear struts and bearings as well. These can throw you all over the road.
Besides the above posted recommendations- check the front wheel bearing adjustment, trailing arms, rear struts and bearings as well. These can throw you all over the road.